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Medal of Honor Silver Commemorative Coin Images
February 14, 2011 by Darrin Lee Unser · 2 Comments
The United States Mint has published images of the gold and silver Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins which celebrate the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861.
The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act of 2009, Public Law 111-91, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on November 6, 2009. The Act authorizes up to 500,000 silver dollars and a maximum of 100,000 $5 gold coins.
The Medal of Honor Silver Dollar and the companion $5 Gold Coin will be released by the United States Mint at noon ET on February 25, 2011, in both proof and uncirculated qualities and with special introductory prices.
Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Images
Along with the commemorative coin images, the following provides brief details about the designs of each coin and their prices.
Silver Commemorative Coin Images
The obverse or heads side of the commemorative silver dollars feature images of the three Medals of Honors from the Army, Navy and Air Force. The ribbon with a field of stars in the center is common to all three medals and symbolizes the joint nature of modern era warfare. The image was sculpted by Jim Licaretz. Inscriptions surrounding the medals include LIBERTY, 1861–2011, IN GOD WE TRUST and MEDAL OF HONOR.
Proof and Uncirculated Silver Commemorative Coin Images
The reverse or tails side of each silver dollar portrays a contemporary Army infantry soldier carrying a wounded soldier to safety under enemy fire. The image symbolizes the courage and self-sacrifice of all recipients. Inscriptions include UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The image was designed by Richard Masters and sculpted by Phebe Hemphill.
The proof silver dollars will go on sale with an introductory price of $54.95 and then change to $59.95. The uncirculated dollars will launch at $49.95 and later move to $54.95.
$5 Gold Commemorative Coin Images
The obverse of the $5 gold commemorative coin features an image of the original medal authorized by Congress in 1861. It was sculpted by Joseph Menna. Inscriptions include LIBERTY, 1861–2011, IN GOD WE TRUST and MEDAL OF HONOR.
Proof and Uncirculated $5 Gold Commemorative Coin Images
The reverse features Minerva, based on the common central image on both the original Army, Navy and Air Force Medals of Honor. Minerva, standing with a shield representing the Army and Navy in her right hand and the Union flag in her left hand, is flanked by a field artillery cannon and wheel of the Civil War era. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, $5 and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The image was designed by Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by Michael Gaudioso.
The proof $5 gold coin will go on sale with an introductory price of $449.95 and then change to $454.95. The uncirculated gold pieces will launch at $439.95 and later move to $444.94.
The Medal of Honor is America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the U.S. Armed Services. Less than 3,500 have ever been awarded.
The silver dollars will be the last 2011 silver commemoratives issued this year. The US Mint has already released the first commemorative coin series in 2011, the gold, clad and silver US Army Commemorative Coins.
I wish they would have placed the image of Minerva on the silver coins. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that the coins available to the average people are becoming less artistically appealing. I don’t know many people who will be able to pay $500+ for a coin. I understand the need to commemorate, but I also understand the need to inspire. Children I know will look at the silver coins and say, “Oh, it’s a guy carrying a guy.” They will look at the gold and say, “Who is that and why is she there?” Unfortunately, most of them will probably never see the gold unless they go to a coin show.
Just my two cents.
Art Haule
This is another outrageously overpriced mint offering. At the current price of gold ($1400/oz) there is $338.80 worth of gold in the gold coin. At the current price of silver ($33.86) there is $26.19 worth of silver in the silver coin. This makes the markup $111.15 on the gold proof coin and $28.76 on the silver proof coin. Don’t forget the $4.95 handling/postage. The mint can keep these for those over priced rates — I will buy bullion (much less mark up). Prices as of February 22, 2011. [Keep in mind these are introductory prices —lol. After March 28, 2011 prices will go even higher.]